By the late
20th century and early years of the
21st century,
Milan-born
Dario Gradi (born
8 July 1941) had become one of English
football's most respected managers and coaches. Never achieving stardom as a player, Gradi embarked on an off-pitch career that eventually took him to
Crewe Alexandra F.C. in
1983. He took the club from the bottom of the then Fourth Division to the First Division by the late
1990s, becoming the League's longest serving manager in the process. His ability to spot talent in young players and to develop this is well-known. Graduates of the Gradi school include England internationals
David Platt[?],
Geoff Thomas[?],
Danny Murphy[?] and
Seth Johnson[?], Welsh international
Robbie Savage[?], and Northern Ireland international
Neil Lennon[?].